Your guide will meet you at your hotel, and you'll take a cab or Uber to the sight

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What You'll Do

Explore the many layers of Rome, and experience the mysteries of the Basilica of Saint Clement

Discover the underground Roman Houses on the Caelian Hill, and learn about the lives of the early Christians

Play at being an archaeologist, and go underground to discover history

Overview

Discover the most important underground sights of Rome, and be fascinated by the hidden history of the Eternal City. Explore the Basilica of Saint Clement and the Roman Houses, and see the secret face of Rome.

What to Expect

The Basilica of Saint Clement is a beautiful church from the 11th century. Descending a staircase, you will discover that it was built on an even more ancient basilica, from the 4th century A.D.

Beneath the lower basilica is another sight: a temple built for the mysterious Persian god Mithra, whose followers gathered in secret temples called 'caves', sharing meals and celebrating secret rituals.

Though uninitiated to the religion of Mithra, you will be given the opportunity to see the temple and rooms where the followers of this Persian god prepared their sacred rites. Next to the temple is a Roman building from the 1st century A.D. It was likely the Roman mint, a massive structure surrounded by a subterranean stream, which you'll hear during the tour.

The second sight is equally fascinating. You will walk to the Basilica of Saints John and Paul, built on on the Caelian Hill, above the houses of two Christian martyrs killed and buried beneath a staircase during the last Roman persecution, at the time of Emperor Julian, between 361 and 363 A.D.

These two saints were the leaders of an important Christian community; some years after the death of the emperor, the Christians – free to worship Christ again – built a church dedicated to them at the site of their house, which is one of the very few roman residences that has survived.

The house was built in the 3rd century A.D. Its beautiful wall paintings are still well preserved. At this sight, archaeology, art history and the history of religion merge in a unique and marvelous way.

What's Included

Tickets to skip the line

Hotel pick-up

Transportation

Know Before You Go

• Women are advised that they will need to cover their knees and shoulders in the catacombs, as a sign of respect